Jorge Masvidal CONFIRMED as late replacement to jet in and save UFC 251 main event against rival Kamaru Usman as Dana White teases Fight Island showdown with powerful promo
- UFC chief Dana White has confirmed Jorge Masvidal will fight Kamaru Usman
- Gilbert Burns was slated to take on Usman, but tested positive for coronavirus
- Masvidal has stepped in at the last minute, with the fight just a week away
The fight between Jorge Masvidal and Kamaru Usman at UFC 251 is on, with UFC chief Dana White confirming the bout on Sunday with a Twitter hype video.
Usman was slated to take on Gilbert Burns in the main event on UFC Fight Island on Sunday 12 July, but the Brazilian tested positive for coronavirus on Friday.
Masvidal, who was originally in line to take on Usman before negotiations broke down over pay, swiftly declared himself available to replace Burns at short notice.
Masvidal has offered to step in and fight the UFC welterweight champion at one week’s notice
The fight is now on, with UFC chief Dana White confirming the bout with a Twitter hype video
The 35-year-old, who claimed the ‘Baddest Mother F*****’ belt against Nate Diaz in November, has even posted images of himself on Instagram ‘negotiating’ on the phone and taking a coronavirus test.
Masvidal claimed the money he was originally offered was only half of what he got for the Diaz fight.
That purse was then matched, but Masvidal wanted more, as well as a higher cut of the pay-per-view revenue.
Masvidal captured the BMF title against Nate Diaz, and was originally in line to face Usman
Despite the disagreement, Masvidal appears to have returned to the conversation, and is set to save the UFC boss’ show next weekend.
Now the Nigerian Nightmare has seemingly accepted the challenge by tweeting: ‘Might be time to make the pig squeal.’
After passing coronavirus tests in Las Vegas, the pair will be able to fly to Abu Dhabi, where they will be tested again before being allowed to train further.
The Twitter video has each fighter trading verbal barbs, with Usman saying his opponent needs to be ‘humbled,’ followed by Masvidal ending by saying ‘you’re getting baptised my brother.’